Natural cures for cellulite reduction

If you talk to patients suffering from cellulite you might just be surprised to find out that most of them don't even want to think about walking around in shorts or bathing suits anymore. That dimpled look of the skin also known as cellulite is the main reason why so many women spend tones of money on expensive anti cellulite treatments and also spend a lot of time on creating anti cellulite remedies, like anti cellulite creams, anti cellulite wraps and even skin vacuuming, electrical stimulation, all of them meant to make the skin smoother and firmer.

What is cellulite and why do we have cellulite?

Although you might cellulite on some men, cellulite is usually an exclusive condition that only affects women, due to our anatomy. The anatomy of a woman’s skin is different than a man’s and cellulite is primarily about estrogen. As estrogen is released into a woman’s body, fluid builds up in fatty tissues. And women have more fatty tissue than men – particularly throughout the thighs and hips.

The very hormone which helps us relax during pregnancy decreases production of collagen, which is the protein which helps keep skin elastic and strong. When elasticity decreases, there is a greater likelihood of cellulite.

Cellulite is located in the subsurface – or subcutaneous layer of the skin. It is made of up of connective tissue and fat cells known as the septa. Cellulite forms when the structural support of the skin starts to collapse and the fat cells push through it – that’s what causes the ‘dimpled’ look that so many women would like to do away with.

The bad news is, that like most of the things that bother us the most in life, cellulite doesn't have a quick fix and it's not all that easy to remove and completely erase. But what we can do is find out how cellulite forms and in what ways we can help out bodies to eliminate the things that cause cellulite.

The lymph system and the formation of cellulite

Our lymphatic system plays a critical role in the development of cellulite. The septa becomes stiff because of decreased lymph and blood circulation to the subcutaneous layer of skin. The tissue weakens and the decrease in lymph drainage causes the fluids which should carry away waste to be trapped, the septa then becomes fibrous and tightens even more on the underlying fat cells. The decreased circulation also weakens capillaries and veins, causing the surrounding tissue to harden. Blood reroutes around the cellulite area and the septa fibers continue to thicken and even more fat continues to be deposited. The fats and toxins won’t be removed because of the poor circulation.

You can see that a healthy lymph system is critical to stopping the formation and breaking the cellulite building cycle.

Toxins in the body can cause cellulite

Our sweat glands, kidneys, liver and lymph system are all critical to ridding our bodies of toxins. Toxic build-up is the primary cause of the stagnant lymph, which is at the crux of cellulite. When your body is overburdened with chemicals, additives, and other toxins, these organs are unable to keep up. If you think about these organs as screens or filters, it makes sense that they would need to be cleaned regularly in order to work efficiently.

I recommend that you go through a detox diet two to three times a year – this process allows these organs to clean up and jump start to keep you healthy!

Hormones and cellulite

You probably know that hormones play an essential part in most of out bodily functions. A healthy looking skin also depends on how well our hormones are balanced. You may see how your cellulite gets worse during the times when you experience hormonal fluctuations like the period before menopause or when you're pregnant.

We’ve known for many years that estrogen plays a role in maintaining skin elasticity and firmness, due to the role it plays in increasing the formation of collagen. When your hormones are not balanced, the walls of your veins and lymph vessels are less resilient – and they are not as efficient in removing toxins. This weakness also causes lymph flow and blood to stagnate which contributes to the stiffening of the septa.

Progesterone and human growth hormone (hGH) are also important hormones when looking at skin heath. Progesterone, when used in a natural form, converts to other hormones, if needed. There is some controversy surrounding the use of hGH. Its important to research and see a healthcare practitioner before using any type of hormone replacement therapy.

Your body’s systems are all connected, and the cellulite you see is a symptom of something going on in your body. It’s important to clear your body of toxins regularly, feed your body what it needs and be aware of ways to keep your hormones balanced.

How to get rid of cellulite without expensive treatments

Be aware of toxins and limit your exposure. Preservatives, chemicals, additives, alcohol and caffeine all test your lymph system. Eliminate sugar completely from your diet. Sugar interferes with Vitamin C metabolism and vitamin C is critical to the formation of elastin and collagen.

There are many detox food plans available. You may want to consider one based on Ayurvedic principles. I’ll often recommend a two week detox plan – some women find it challenging, but most report feeling fantastic once they’ve completed it.

Breathe to eliminate cellulite! Breathing helps lymphatic flow – and it helps you relax. Be mindful to breathe several times a day.

Taking vitamins and minerals might help reduce cellulite. It is difficult to get the nutrients we need from the foods we eat. Farming and processing practices have reduced the nutritional values of our foods. A daily multivitamin is an easy way to close the gap between what we our body needs and what we are able to take in on a daily basis.

Exercise regularly to eliminate cellulite. Regular exercise helps increase muscle tone and burn fat. Both help to reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Practice lymphatic massage. This will help drain and increase your lymphatic fluid. Become familiar with the gentle finger movements that create pressure to move lymph fluid through your nodes and vessels.

Stress management - a cellulite cure. When our bodies are stressed, blood is directed away from the skin, affecting circulation and decreasing the nutrients being delivered to our skin. Increased cortisol tells the body to store fat which contributes to cellulite.

Anti cellulite massage – massage the areas affected by cellulite in a circular motion. This will help break down fat and toxins and increase blood flow to the area.

So don't despair, don't believe that if cellulite runs in your family and you've been told that it's acceptable and you can't do anything about it, you actually can't do anything about it. By raising your awareness of the process that contributes toward cellulite development and supporting your all-important lymph system, you may find the combination which helps you diminish or alleviate cellulite.

"Cellulite represents a fat deposit that causes lumps and bumps on your skin and that dreaded cottage cheese look. Usually, cellulite makes its appearance on the abdominal area, thighs and buttocks and affects just about every woman after the age of puberty, due to certain changes at the skin layers and hormonal changes. Cellulite can be banished if tackled with in its beginning stages. Find out how you can get rid of cellulite on Cellulite7.com"